“Oh goddess! That’s why you scented me. That’s why you’ve been so moody and broody! You thought we were all together!” Arlo doubles over with laughter, clutching his sides.
I growl. “Aye, laugh it up.”
“You poor thing!” Arlo grips my arms so he doesn’t topple over. Tears swim in his eyes, cheeks pink with mirth. “No! They’re just my friends. Well, Der and I had a thing a few yearsback, but that’s over and done with.” He wipes his eyes. “I can’t believe you were jealous.”
I fold my arms as embarrassment heats my neck. “I was not.”
Arlo takes my chin between his fingers and forces me to look at him. The molten heat in his eyes makes my heart tumble in my chest. “There’s one thing you should know about me, stud.” His thumb rubs along my bottom lip, making my skin tingle. “I don’t share.”
“Nor do I,” I say, my voice a low growl. “You are mine. Fake or not.”
Arlo blinks and drops his hand. All at once, he’s gone from my space. He rubs the back of his neck and laughs. “Yeah. Fake or not. Can’t be acting out of character now, can we?”
Did I say something wrong? Mayhap I was too forward?
“Arlo, I—”
“Hmm, what’s that, Der? Coming!” He bounds back to the table.
I’m fairly certain I didn’t hear Derek call for him at all.
Once I’m done in the restroom, which took me some time because I became rather fascinated by the toilet’s ability to flush, I rejoin Arlo at the table only to find him scowling at Derek.
“—bit presumptuous of you to act like you know fuck all about my relationship,” Arlo’s saying.
“Der, mate, come off it,” Rodney says, elbowing him.
“You lot are being stupid.” Derek leans back in his seat, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“Excuse you?” Imogen snaps.
“What in Freya’s name is your problem?” Arlo’s face twists in a mixture of shock and hurt.
“You really expect us to buy this?” Derek asks, voice rising in Arlo’s direction.
Fury ignites the blood in my veins. I settle in next to Arlo and lean across the table toward Derek. “Don’t yell at him.”
Derek winces. “Sorry, Lo. I just… You haven’t been in a relationship since—”
“I remember,” Arlo says through clenched teeth. “You’re not my bloody father, Der. I wanted your support, not this shit.”
Derek drops his gaze to the table, shoulders slumping.
“We are happy for you, Lo,” Imogen says, reaching over to pat his hand.
“Course we are!” Rodney chimes in.
“But…” Imogen trails off when Arlo blows out a sigh. “We were just surprised your new man is a, well…”
This again? First Arlo’s dad gave me a hard time, now Arlo’s friends? Why is everyone close to him so mistrustful of shifters?
“A what?” Arlo challenges, surprising me with the low fury in his voice. “A gentleman? A kind and loyal person?”
My lips twitch into a smile, warmth blooming in my chest from his support.
“—and we see that now, don’t we, Rod?”
Rodney nods. “I do,” he says emphatically. “You’re great, Gunnar. I can see you two are close.”
